Hormones Flashcards
Compare and contrast the communication methods of the endocrine and nervous systems.
The endocrine system communicates via hormones, many of which act as long-distance chemical signals. The nervous system communicates via long-distance electrical signals and short-distance chemical signals.
What is a hormone?
A hormone is a chemical signal that is secreted into the circulatory system and communicates regulatory messages within the body. Hormones may reach all parts of the body but only certain types of cells–the “target” cells–are equipped to respond.
What is neuroendocrine signaling?
In neuroendocrine signaling, specialized neurons–called neurosecretory cells–secrete neurohormones that enter the bloodstream and trigger responses in target cells anywhere in the body.
What are pheromones?
Pheromones are small molecules released into the external environment, and function in the communication between members of the same species. Pheromone signaling is NOT an example of endocrine signaling.
In cell signaling, what are the types of local regulators (signals involved over short distances, such as in paracrine and autocrine signaling)?
- Modified fatty acids such as prostaglandins.
- Polypeptides such as cytokines and growth factors.
- Amines such as serotonin.
- Gases such as nitric oxide.
What are the types of hormones?
- Polypeptides such as insulin.
- Cholesterol-derived steroids such as cortisol.
- Amines (modified amino acids) such as epinephrine and thyroxine.
Name some examples of hydrophilic cell signals.
Polypeptides and epinephrine,
Name some examples of hydrophobic cell signals.
Steroids such as cortisol and the sex hormones and thyroid hormones.
How do water-soluble hormones work?
They are secreted by exocytosis, travel in the blood, bind to cell surface receptors on target cells, and induce changes in cellular responses and/or gene transcription.
How do lipid-soluble hormones work?
They diffuse out of the endocrine cell, bind transport proteins that keep them soluble in the blood, diffuse into the target cells and bind to receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus, and induce changes in gene transcription.
How does the hormone estradiol work?
Estradiol is a lipid-soluble hormone. It goes into the reproductive organs of the female and crosses directly into the cytosol to bind to an intracellular receptor. Then, it activates gene expression on the vitellogenin gene.
Do water-soluble or lipid-soluble hormones work faster to achieve a cellular response?
Even though there are fewer intermediate steps for a lipid-soluble hormone, a water-soluble hormone works faster. A lipid-soluble hormone must activate transcription machinery while in the water-soluble hormone system, the machinery is already present and can activate the cellular response faster.
How does the body respond to a high stress situation?
The adrenal medulla (an endocrine gland) secretes epinephrine that enters the bloodstream. It enters the liver, where it binds to a B receptor on a liver cell. This activates a signal transduction pathway that involves adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A, leading to the secretion of glucose into the blood.
What happens when epinephrine binds to a B receptor on a smooth muscle cell?
Adenylyl cyclase is activated, which then activates protein kinase A. The cellular response is the relaxation of the cell. This allows more blood to flow to skeletal muscle cells.
How does the cellular response change based on what type of cell epinephrine binds?
When epinephrine binds to B receptors on liver and smooth muscle cells, the response is different. In the liver cell, the end result is the release of glucose into the bloodstream. In the smooth muscle cells, the end result is vasodilation and increased blood flow.
What happens when epinephrine binds to smooth muscle cells with an a receptor?
The receptor activates phospholipase C, which activates the second messengers of IP3, calcium, calmodulin, etc. This causes the cell to contract, giving it less blood.
Why does epinephrine bind to smooth muscle cells with an a receptor?
When epinephrine binds to smooth muscle cells with B receptors, the end result is vasodilation. This causes an inequality of blood flow in the skeletal muscles. To end this effect, it must bind to cells with a receptors in the intestines in order to decrease blood flow and vasodilation.
What is the difference between liver cells and smooth muscle cells with B receptors that epinephrine binds to?
The difference is in the types of proteins protein kinase A activates in the cascade.
What is a simple endocrine pathway?
There is a single hormone released that stimulates a direct response.
What has to happen to the contents of the stomach as they move into the intestine?
The pH of the stomach is about 1 to 2 (highly acidic), and the pH of the intestine is neutral, about 7. Therefore, the contents of the stomach need to be neutralized before moving to the intestine.
What is the duodenum?
The very beginning of the small intestine. This is where the S cells are found.
What happens in the duodenum when the pH drops?
A sensor in the S cells of the duodenum activates, causing the cells to secrete a hormone called secretin.
What does secretin do in the secretin signaling pathway?
After secretion by the S cells, it travels through the blood and is recognized by specific cells in the pancreas.
How does the pancreas react to the hormone secretin?
It releases bicarbonate that raises the pH in the duodenum and neutralizes the acid.
What happens as the pH in the duodenum rises?
The stimulus to the endocrine cells in the duodenum decreases. This causes them to slow down and eventually stop the release of bicarbonate. This is an example of a negative feedback system.
Describe the initial response in a mother with a feeding baby.
The baby stimulates a nervous response on the breast which sends a signal to the hypothalamus.
What does the hypothalamus do in response to stimulation (milk example)?
The hypothalamus produces oxytocin and sends it to the posterior pituitary. Then it enters the bloodstream until it reaches the smooth muscle in the mammary glands.
What effect does oxytocin have on the mammary glands?
It tells the smooth muscle of the mammary glands to contract. This causes the milk to squeeze out so that the baby can drink.
Why is the neuroendocrine pathway of milk release in a mother an example of a positive feedback system?
As the baby drinks, it continues to stimulate the breast. This maintains the signals to the hypothalamus, causing milk to be released until the baby stops drinking. Then, the release of oxytocin is halted.
What is a hormone cascade pathway?
This is a type of signaling in which one hormone causes the release of another hormone, which eventually leads to a response. There can be any number of intermediate hormone responses in the cascade
What is another name for thyroid hormone?
Thyroxine.
What is the role of thyroid hormone?
It increases the metabolism.
How does the thyroid hormone cascade pathway begin?
The stimulus is the drop in thyroid hormone level. The hypothalamus then releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) into the bloodstream, where it travels to the anterior pituitary.
When TRH reaches the anterior pituitary, what happens?
The anterior pituitary releases another hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH enters the bloodstream and travels until it reaches the thyroid gland.
What happens when TSH reaches the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland has receptors for TSH. The gland releases thyroid hormone, which enters the bloodstream until it meets its target cells and initiates a cellular response.
What are the three hormones involved in the thyroid hormone cascade pathway?
- TRH from the hypothalamus
- TSH from the anterior pituitary
- Thyroid hormone from the thyroid.
What happens as the level of thyroid hormone increases?
This sends a negative feedback signal to the hypothalamus and to the anterior pituitary to communicate the message that there is enough thyroid hormone and to slow down the process.
Are negative or positive feedback regulation systems more common? Why?
Negative. Hormone pathways involved in homeostasis typically involve negative feedback in order to maintain the pre-existing state.
How does the molting of the exoskeleton in an insect begin?
Neurosecretory cells in the corpora cardiaca (a nerve in the brain) release PTTH, which travels to the thoracic gland.
What happens in the thoracic gland when PTTH reaches it?
The thoracic gland releases ecdysteroid, which tells the insect to molt.
What hormone does the corpora allata (a nerve in the brain) release? Why?
Juvenile hormone (JH) This hormone determines what stage of molting an insect will undergo, whether from early larva to later larva to pupa to adult.
What happens when there is ecdysteroid and high levels of JH in an insect?
There is a transition from one type of larva to another. The insect stays in the same life stage.
What happens when there is ecdysteroid and low levels of JH in an insect?
There is a transition from larva to pupa.
What happens when there is ecdysteroid and no JH in an insect?
There is a transition from pupa to adult (butterfly/moth).
What example was given to illustrate the fact that the nervous and endocrine systems can coordinate responses?
The pairing of ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone in the life stages of butterflies and moths.
What are the ways in which hormonal signals can be terminated?
- Intracellular termination of the hormone by degradation of inhibition of transduction.
- Extracellular degradation by the liver, spleen, blood, lymph, etc.
- Removal of the hormone by excretion via the kidneys.
How long does epinephrine typically last in the body?
One to three minutes before being broken down.
How long does cortisol typically last in the body?
Cortisol is involved in long-term stress response, so it stays in the bloodstream for one to three days.
What are endocrine cells?
Cells that are dispersed in organs that are part of other organ systems. An example would be the S cells of the duodenum.
What are endocrine glands?
An aggregation of endocrine cells; ductless organs that secrete hormones into the surrounding fluid. (examples are the hypothalamus and pituitary gland)
What are exocrine glands?
Exocrine glands (such as the salivary glands) secrete substances into the cavities of the surface of the body using a duct.
What are tropic hormones?
Hormones that have an endocrine gland or endocrine cell as the target.
What are non-tropic hormones?
Hormones that directly influence non-endocrine cells. (some hormones are both tropic and non-tropic)
What hormone(s) does the pineal gland release?
Melatonin.
What hormone(s) does the hypothalamus release?
- Hormones released from posterior pituitary (oxytocin and vasopressin)
- Releasing and inhibiting hormones.
What hormone(s) does the anterior pituitary release?
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- Prolactin
- Growth hormone (GH)